Inspecting apparatus for meter paper



' Jan. 27, 1931. J. R. WEAVER 1,790,133

' I-NSPECTING APPARATUS FOR METER PAPER Original Filed Dec. 6,1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fxgyz.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-QOO INVENTOR James R.Weaver ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 27, 1931 JAMES R. WEAVER, on IRwI'm-PnnivsYLvANIA, AssIGNoR" rownsrmsnoosn nine:

mine & MANUFACTURING oom'rANY; A oonronniuon on PEnnsyn-vAnIn j INsrnorINe ArrA'RATUs non. IIEJTER'PAIEETR Original application filed December -Mywinvention relates generally to testing machines and moretparticularly to machines for testing the accuracy .of the spacing of holes in perforated'material.

.While the invention is applicable to a wide variety of uses, it is particularly useful for inspecting paper for use in electric imeters;

Such paper must beof'uniform widthuand must be provided with marginal holes-for engaging the driving sprockets. in the meters. The marginal holes must be 3.0- T 1 curately spaced, both laterally and longitw" dinally, in order that'the sheetmay be drawn through a meter atthe'proper speedl toensure proper functioning of the meter. V Meters which utilize recording sheets are often operated in positions where it is not feasible to keep them under observation, and,

in fact, they may be operated many days at a time Without being inspected. 'It .Will,

' therefore, be understood that defects in the recording paper will cause a failure of the record, and, therefore, faloss to the power.-

distributor.

stated, is the provision of-testing devices, thatshall besimple and efficient in'operation and capable of being readily and economi cally manufactured. r

A more specific object of the invention is to provide for testingthelateral and longi tudinal spacing of holes punched inpaper or other material. Another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide'for automatically stopping the operation of a testingmachine when the holes under inspection are not accurately-located inthe punched material.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and'will, in part, appear hereinafter.

r f The invention, accordingly; is disclosed-in the embodiment"thereof shown in.- the: accompanying drawings, and comprises 1 L the structural featuresand the combination of e,"1e2 7 ,-'seria1fno. 238,106. ni' idea -1' o,- 1929., Serial No; 3 2,099.

- raised position,

and this a lication filed May elements and arrangement, ofpartswhich' Will be hereinafterxsetiforth and the scope of the application of which will be particularly defined in theclaims'fl For a fuller understanding of the inven tion,-reference may be had to the following' ,detail description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which: ;.l

Flgure 1 1s a 'dlagrammat c- View, inside elevation, of a machine for lnspecting'meter such perforated paper asm'ay'be tested by themacliine illustrated in Figll Fig. 3 is a view, in side elevationyofl the 'machineshown diagrammatically 'in Fig. 1,

withtheplunger ofthe'testing-device in a 4 isjaview,

electrical control system that is providedwith a testing device similarfto, Fig; 3, but i I showing theplunger of the'te'sting device in v -its lowermost position, i g The obgect of the nvention, generally I testing device shown in 1 Fig. 6is a; top =p1an1yi'ew of he testing" v d r .5 9 1 v 1 Fig. 7 is a vitamin secti n, takenonj'the line VII-47171 o-fjFig. 4.

ticular embodiment of the invention which is vthere illustrated comprises, in general, a

"frame l, upon,whi ch is supported'a drum 2 for carrying the material to be tested'and a testing "device 3.; For operating the test v Referring now to the drawings, the parchine','-carries aroll of meter paper'G-that is r perforated: along "its (edges by, symmctrically I spaced ho-le's7, as best shown in Fig; 2.

From the-drum 2, the paper fiis led through theztesting device operates; it is secured theretensioning rolls 8 and thenceto the testing through the machine,.a pair of friction rolls '9 and 10, which engageit in the. usual well known manner, are provided beyond the testing device 3. In-testing the perforated paper 6, it is necessary that it be advanced periodically a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between two symmetrically spaced holes 7. This measured'periodic advance ofthe:

paper 6 is accomplished by means ofa ratchet device that comprises a ratchet wheel 11 which is mounted on the lower friction roll 9.

turn, actuated by a crank pin carried by a disc 15' with which one'endofitlietsha-ft4is Provi edp- To provide for adjusting the distance which the paper 6 is advanced at each frotation of the shaft 4', the connecting rod leis pivotally connected to the lever 13 bymeans of a block 16that'is s'li'dablymounted in a slot 17 in the lever.'

By moving the'block '16 alongth 1 h the eflectWehngth f the lever 13 maybe.

adjusted and, consequently, the'extent. of its oscillation movement changed to turn the roll 9 the proper amount to move the paper '6 the required distance. After passingtlirough the rolls 9-and 10 the paper 6; is wound-upon a.

receiving drum 18thatj di at the/end ofthe testing machine. i a

The testing dev1ce'3 comprises a support ing body 20, a movable block 21 th'at'fis mounted in the upper portionoftlie'supporh ing body, a cylindri'cal plunger 22'that is carried bythemov ablebloclr21',and an anvili23 that is disposed on a set screw 24which is mounted racket 25.0n the supporting body20.

The supportmg'body. mounted-on a base 26 which is disposed on th9fPtm 1L In order that the body 20 maybe a djustedjon the base 26 to suit the"conditious underpwhich upper. portion of the supporting 'bo dy'j 20 in such. manner. that the block bej'moved vertically. A plate 33 is attached to the end of the narrow section 31 by screws34jto lieep the block in position in the slot. j

The plunger 22 is slidablydisposed'in a pair of extendedportions 35 'and 36iof the movable block 21 and'is provi ded with'acoutact point'37 for engaging theanv il 23: In,

exerts a downward point 37 may be adjusted rel'ativeto the. j

anvil-23.;- i

-F or the purpose of forcing the plunger 22 and its contact point 37 toward the anvil 23, V a spring 4,1 is coiled around the upper central i portionoffthe plunger 22', withpne end'rest- As showm'the ratchet wheel 11 is'di'sposedto be operated intermittently by a pawl..12.. which is carried by a lever 13. The lever'13 is pivoted. at apoint on the axis of the roll 9 and is oscillated about its pivot. point by; means of a connectingrod 14, which is, in

ing against the upper'eXte'nde'd portion 35 of A collar43 on the upper part of the plunger limits its movement relative to thegbl'ocli 21. Themeans for moving. the block 21 relative to the supporting body 20 comprises; acoiled spring M for forcing theblock 'downwardly and a pushro d 45 for movingitupwa-rdly againstthe action ofithespring it 1 As 'Sl1QW11,'th8 spring 44 is disposediinthe upper end o'fjthe slot. 321 in. the supporting body 20, with its upper endiini engagement with a" wall above the slot and its lower end bearing onthe movable: block 21" so thateit pressure on J the .block at all- -times.-'" Q '1; r The .pushrod 4 5 isdisposed in a vertical position in the lower. part of: the supporting body '20, with :its upper] :end engagingthe block 21 and its lower end bearingionthe free endofan actuating armrxtti. .The actuating arm 4L6 isfsecured' to, and may; be

operated by; a transverse shaft'4-7 that is sup ported by brackets 48 and 49' that are mounted on the frame l'. The transverse shaft ljmay berotatedby a second arm 51-ithat1s mounted thereon near oneend. The outer endof the second arm 51-is connectedjby meansof a pin and slot joint, to 'avertical rod 52 that is mounted in a pair of bearings 53 and? 54 ii the'bracket49vq i second arm 51;its lower en d is provided with a roller 55 that engages "an eccentric collar In order to actuate the vertical rod: 52 to' rotate-"the tran'sverse shaft Hf-through the or cam 5.6 that is disposed on the'drive shaft 41 It'will, therefore, be seen thatrotation of the driveshaft 4% will, through the'action of the eccentric 56, cause the-block 21 to'b'e moved upwardly in the supporting body 20 and thatthe spring e l will-cause it to be moveddownwardly, thereby effecting are ci 'rojcatin movement of the'bloclz 2.1;.

' i Inasmuch-as the plunger 22 is slidably mounted-'1n the v movable block 21' and is forced towards its lowermost position therein, a downward. movement "of 'the mov'able block" 21 will carry the plunger 22 down-with it until its contact point 37 strikes the anvil 23. The plunger 22,- upon striking the anvil 23, will be held stationary while the block 21 completes its downward movement.

As shown in Fig. 1, the testing device 3 is electrically connected in the motor circuit inv such manner as to constitutea switch for controlling thefmotor 5. Themotor ornay be operated from any suitable source of power and, in this instance, a power line, comprisingline conductors Li -and L2, is shown and the motor circuit extends from the supply line L1, througha line switch 61, conductors 62 and 63, the contact-members of a. relay 64,

conductor 65, motor 5 and a conductor 66, to supply line L2. i r

.The testing device 3' is disposed to control the line relay 64. As shown, the testing device presents a plurality of circuit paths which maybe closed alternately to control the actuatim circuit of .therelay 64 to govb ern the operation of the motor.

In order to start the motor, a push-button switch 67 is provided for closing the actuat= ing circuit for the relay 64. 'lherefo-re,-when relay is closed, a holding circuit is established which may be traced from the energized actuating coil of the relay 64, through a conductor 73, an' interlock on the relay 64, a conductor'74 and one of the current paths through the testing device. In the present illustration, the current path through the testing device comprises a. spring 75 and the plate 42 to aconductor 76. lVhcn the block 21 is actuated to its lowermost. position, the current path through the t8StlIlg,Hl&Clll11 extends fromithe conductor 74, a conductor contact'plate 42, to the, conductor 7 6.

7 7, anvil 23, contact point '37, plunger 22 and The sprin'g'75 is mounted on an insulating body 78 on the movable block 21:and is disposed in; such manner that its freeend will engage the underside oftheq plate 42 011 the" plunger 22, while the movable block "21 is in its upper position (as shown'inFig. 3), but will be out ofen agement with the plate 42 whenthe block 21 reaches its-lowermost position (as shownin Fig. During the clownward movement of'the block 21, the spring 75 will remain in'en agem'ent with the plate 42 until" after the plunger 22 strikes the anvil 23.

- It. will,"therefore, be. understood that the circuits through the spring 75 will be closed 7 and that the circuit through the anvil j23 will be open when the blocli'21 and'the plung r 22 are 'in their uppermost positions.

-When the block 21' is moved toits' central position, and the-contact point 37 engages the anvil 23,'both' of the current paths through v the testing device will be closed and will be in parallel. When thegblock 21 is moved to its" lowermost position, the circuit "throughthespring 75 is openedfand' the circuit through the anvil 23 is closed, provided that the holes 7 in the paper are'accurately spaced to register with the contact point 37.

In order to test a roll of'meter paper 6, the paper is placed on the drum .2 and passedthrough the testing device 3 and the rolls9 and 10 to the drum'18'. It will be necessary toadjust the paper-relative to the rolls 9 and 10 in such manner-thatthe contact member. 37 will pass through one of the holes 7 when moved to its "-lowermost' position by the cam 56; The ellectivelength of the {lever arm 13 is also adjusted to move the pape'r'forward a distance equal to a multiple ofthe distance between two holes-7, as explained 'hereinbeffore." i

lhemotorh be then'started by first closing the line switch 61 and then pressing the starting push-button switch'67.. The re,-

cuit. The operation of-thetesting machinezmay now befollowed throughone cycle, starting withthe parts in the position shown inFigs.

turns counterclockwise. quarter of a revolution, the crankpinof the disc 15 will be moved to its highestposition,

lay 64 will closethe motor circuit and willbe 'heldin the-closed position 'by the holding cir-t;

-1 and 3 and assuming that the drive shaft 4 During thevfirsti thus drawing'the paper 6 through the testing device3 by means of the ratchet mechanism on the roll 9. Simultaneously, the cam 56 will permit the contact'point 37 to move towards thep aper '6. .In the next quarter of a revolution, the crank pin will move downwardly and cause'thepawl 12lto'slip 7 over the teeth on the ratchet wheel 11 with out changing the position-of the paper. I The cam 56 will, during this period,f'permit they. movable block 21 to'move to itslowermost position, and, assuming that the paper 6 has I been properly positioned in the machine, the contact 'member 37 will pass througha hole 7 and engage the anvil 23, as shownin Fig. 4. v -During the third quarter,thekpawl 12 will continue; to slip over theteeth on the ratchet wheel 11, and the contactmember 37 will be I withdrawn from the. hole .17 bythe'i-lrrther' rotation of-the' cam 56. Then the crank pin of disc 15 reaches the bottom'of, itstravel; the

pawl 12. will again engage the teeth of the v ratchet wheel 11 and,as thepperation con; tinues,the paper 6 will'be drawn through the testing device 3 asuficient'distancetoposi-i I tion another :hole in: alignment with the v f l contact'member z .If the hole is accurately placed, the eonthe hole 7' and maintain acircuitthroughthe 1 tact point 37 I will engage the anvil 23 through 2 ice a conductor L2.

testing device which; holds the relay switch- 64closed.. The holding circuit, established when the'iplunger is inLits lowermost posit1on,.e: :tends from conductor 62, through conductor .68, resistor69, conductor. 70,- the 'coil'of relay 64, conductors 7.3, 7 4 and 77, the anvil-23, contact member 37 and the plunger. 22,.the plate 42 and conductor 6, to the line lVhen the inspecting device-is properly adjusted with reference to the paper being tested, it will continue to operate, and the plunger contactpoint 87 Willengage the anvil 23 through the holes 7. in the paper-at each downward stroke, so: long as the holes in the paper being passed through themachine are accuratelyspaced. However, if the holes 7 in the paper 6 are inaccurately spaced, a hole 7 will" not register with the plunger contact polnt 37- and .will be prevented from en gaging the anvil 23 on its downward movement by reason of the fact that it strikes the paper instead'of entering one of the holes.

' Under such conditions, the" circuit through cuts out the defective portion ofpaper or holes in a fabric comprising a switch use,

the inspecting device will be broken, as soon as the spring 75-becon1es disengaged from theplate iQ, therebydeenergizing the relay 7 and stopping th motor 5, i t

' 'When the machine' is stoppedby the passage of inaccurately punched paper through the inspecting device, the operator either marks it off sothat itmay be eliminated when the paper is being rewound.

WVhile the illustrated example constitutes a particular embodiment of my invention, it

will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not limited strictly to the details shown, since, manifestlfy,the same may bevaried considerably without departing .from the spirit and scope of the inventiomasdefined in the appended claims. I

- I claim as my invention:

Y 1.' A device for inspecting the location'of holes in a fabric comprising 'a switch provided with two circuits through itself, one of said circuits being disposed to be completed through-one of the holes in "the fabric and means-for closing both of saidcircuits in alternateoverlapping order.v V

2. A device for inspecting the/placing of 7 holes in afabric having insulatingycharac- ,teristics comprising a switch provided with 'twocircuitsthrough itselfgand means for closing both of said circuits in alternate overlapping order,one of said" circuits being'disposed to" be closed through an accurately placed hole in the fabric, whereby it will be prevented from closing whenthe holes are notfaccurately'placed in the fabric.

13. A device for -',inspecting" the location of ing a supporting body, a carrying member movably mounted in thesupportin'g body, a

plunger contact-member movably mounted in the carrying member, a stationary contact member disposed' to be engaged by the plunger-contact member, and a. contact mem-' ber mounted on the carrying member and disposed to be in engagement with theplunger contact member when the. carrying member is in one position and out of engagement there with when the. carrying member is in another position. 1 i t 4.;Adev1ce for lnspectlng the location of holes 111 a fabric comprising a switch having a supporting body, a carrying member movably mounted in the supporting body, a

' a supporting body,'a*carry1ng member mov ably'mo'unted in a supporting body, a plunger contact .member movably mounted in the carrying member, a stationary contact memher. disposed tobe engaged by the plunger 7 contact. member, .means for biasing the plunger contact member toward the stationary contact member, and aresilient contact. member mounted upon and insulated from the carrying member, saidresilient contact member being so disposed that its free end is in engagement with the plunger contact member when the carrying member is in one.

position and out ,of engagement therewith,

when the carrying memberis in another position.

6. A device for continuously testing the accuracy with which symmetricallydisposed perforations are placed in sheet material that comprises-an electrical contacting device that is disposed to close an electrical [circuit through a perforation'inth-e sheet material beingjtested, meansfor moving the sheet material periodicallyly a distance equal to a; multiple of the distancebetween twoperforations and means for closinglthe contacting device while the'material is stationary Whereby an inaccuracy in thepositionin'gof the perforations will be evidenced by failure to complete the electrical circuit.

7. In a device for testing perforatedsheet material, in combination, means for moving the material to be tested'ina periodic progres-, sive manner a distance equal to a multiple of the dist'ance between two perforations, a

normally closed electrical testing circuit, contact members in-the. testing circuit, saidcontact members being-disposed ltozbe closed through a perforation in the sheet material' while the material is stationary, a circuit breaker disposed in parallel-circuit relation to the contact membersand means for open- 5 ing the circuit breaker While the sheet material is stationary, whereby, if the contact members are prevented from closing by reason of inaccuracy in the position of a perforation, the testing circuit Will be opened.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of April, 1929.

JAMES R. 'WEAVER. 

